Albert ho sctem



A. uossmn. TONGS FQR PICKING UP POTATOES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 29,19.

, PatentedSept. 16,1919.

ALBERT nossrstn, or nwxsron, Mmnnsora.

TONGS FOB PIcKINe UP romances AND THELIKE.

Specification of itetterslPatent. Patented Sept. 16, 1919,

Application filed March 29, 1919. Serial No. 286,037.

To all whom it may concern: 3

Be it known that I, ALBERT HossrELD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lewiston, in the county of W'inona and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongs for PickingUp Potatoes and the like; and I do. hereby declare the following to be afull,

l clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in tongs, especially adapted foruse in picking up potatoes and the like; and, to this end, generallystated, it consists of the novel devices and combinations of deviceshereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing anoperator holding in one hand a pair of the improved tongs and in hisother hand a basket which he slides or drags over the field to receivethe potatoes picked up by said tongs;

Fig. 2 is a proved tong;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same with one of the legs shown in aclosed position by means of dotted lines; and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the improved tongs holding a potato.

The legs 5 and 6 of the improved tongs are connected, at one of theirends, by a flat U-shaped spring that is rigidly secured thereto byrivets or otherwise. The ends of the spring 7 are preferably set intothe legs 5 and 6, so that their outer faces are flush therewith, as wellas the rivets which connect the same to said legs. The free or other endof each leg is bifurcated to aflord a pair of tongs 8.

A flexible strap 9, of rubber or of other suitable material, connec tsthe prongs of each pair at their inner faces. Interposed between theprongs 8 of each pair, is a coiled spring 10' which yieldingly holdssaid prongs spread and the respective strap 9 taut. To limit the openingand closing movements of the legs 5 and 6, there is rigidly securedbetween the prongs 8 of the leg 5, at the crotch of said prongs, a flatlink 11, which projects between th pro gs 8 of the leg .6, .A cotterperspective view of the impin 12, passed through any one of a pluralityof longitudinally spaced holes 13 in the link 11 outward ofthe leg 6,limits the opening or spreading movement of the legs 5 and 6, and acotter pin 14, passed through any one of saidholes' between said legs,limits the closing movenient of said le s. Obviously, these cotter pins12 and 14 a 'ord adjustable stops on the linkll to limit the opening andclosing movements of the legs 5 and 6.

The leg 5, at its inner or spring-connected end, is expanded to afford ahand hold 15 by which an operator 5 may hold the prongs and operate theleg 6 with his thumb to close said leg. Potatoes 0, picked up by theimproved tongs, as shown in Fig. 1, are preferably placed in a metalbasket or other receptacle d having a bail e, which the operator holdsin his other hand, and pushes or drags the basket with, him, as he walkover the field and picks up the potatoes with the improved tongs. Thepotatoes are held between the fiexible straps 9, as best shown in Fig.4, and which straps do not mar or bruise the potatoes. With a littlepractice, an operator can pick up potatoes very quickly with theimproved tongs, without having stoop over, which, of course, makes thework of picking up potatoes very easy and less tiresome. When the basketis filled, the potatoes may be emptied into a sack or a wagon box. Byadjusting the inner pin or stop 14, the size of potatoes held by thetongs may be varied, at will. The link 11 guides the legs 5 and 6,during their opening and closing movements, and holds the same againstlateral movement with respect to each other.

What I claim is 1. A pair of tongs having their legs spring-connected atone end and bifurcated at the other to afford pairs of prongs, andflexible straps connecting the prongs of each pair, said pairs of prongsbeing under strain to hold the flexible straps taut.

2. A pair of tongs having their legs spring-connected at one end andbifurcated at the other to afiord pairs of prongs, flexible strapsconnecting the prongs of each pair, and springs under strain to separatethe prongs of each pair.

3. A pair of tongs having their legs spring-connected at one end andbifurcated at the other to afford pairs of prongs, fissible strapsconnecting the prongs of each palr, and a link pivoted between. and tothe prongs one of said legs and Working between the prongs of the othersaid legs as a guide to limiting the opening movement of said legs.

4 A pair of tongs having their legs spring-connected at one end andbifurcated at the other to afford pairs of prongs, flexible strapsconnecting the prongs of each pair, a link rigidly secured to one ofsaid legs and extending between the prongs of the other thereof, and anadjustable stop on the link for limiting the closing movement of thelegs.

i 5. A pair of tongs having their legs spring-connected at one end andbifurcated at the other to afiord pairs of prongs, flexible strapsconnecting the prongs of each pair, a

link rigidly secured to one of said legs and extending between theprongs of the other thereof, and adjustable stops on the link forlimiting the opening and closing movements of said legs.

6. A pair of tongs having their legs spring-connected at one end andbifurcated at the other to afford pairs of prongs, and flexible strapsconnecting the prongs of each pair, one of said legs at itsspring-connected end being expanded to afford a hand piece.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALBERT HOSSFELD. Witnesses:

R. L. THOMPSON, J. W. KAEPsELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

